Water companies in England dumped untreated sewage into rivers and coastal waters for more than 43,000 hours over July and August, according to new data released by environmental campaigners. This included over 2,000 hours of discharges into designated bathing waters, which are frequented by holidaymakers and families during the summer months.

The figures were published by Surfers Against Sewage, a group that advocates for cleaner water and coastal protection. The organisation reported receiving 636 illness complaints from people who swam in open water during the peak season. Reported symptoms included gastroenteritis, skin rashes, ear and eye infections, and in some cases, hospital admissions.

Areas identified as having the highest number of sewage discharges included Wallasey and Moreton beaches in Merseyside, Readymoney Cove in Cornwall, and Plymouth Hoe East in Devon. Under current regulations, water companies are permitted to release sewage into the environment through storm overflow systems only during periods of heavy rainfall, when treatment systems are overwhelmed.

Surfers Against Sewage is delivering a petition with 330,000 signatures to the Prime Minister’s office, calling for urgent government action to reform water management and improve water quality. Giles Bristow, the group’s chief executive, described the situation as “a glaring public health crisis” linked to what he called water companies prioritising profits over environmental and public health concerns.

In response, Water UK, the representative body for the water industry, said that no spill of untreated sewage is acceptable. The organisation highlighted plans to increase investment threefold with the aim of halving storm overflow incidents by 2030 and enhancing the capacity of approximately 1,700 wastewater treatment facilities across England.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) acknowledged the issues with the current system and emphasized ongoing efforts to implement the biggest reform of the water sector in a generation. A Defra spokesperson stated that the government is committed to addressing the problem and improving the regulatory framework to prevent future pollution events.